Rice planting starts at quake-hit Shiroyone Senmaida in Japan's Noto Peninsula

Farmers and volunteers started planting rice on Saturday at terraced paddies on the coast of the Noto Peninsula, central Japan, which were hit by a powerful earthquake and torrential downpours last year.

The picturesque Shiroyone Senmaida in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which consists of small paddies along a slope overlooking the Sea of Japan, was heavily damaged by the quake and rain.

A group of farmers managing the paddies has been working to restore them. About 100 volunteers from around Japan carefully planted seedlings of the Koshihikari variety with the farmers. Wajima officials say rice will be planted this year on about 250 of the 1,000 paddies that have been restored. The rice planting will continue till Sunday with harvesting planned for September.